Mondaine
Zurich, Switzerland · Est. 1951
Founded by Erwin Bernheim
Mondaine is a Swiss watch brand founded in 1951 by the Bernheim family, and is the official licensee of the iconic Swiss Federal Railways clock design by Hans Hilfiker. The SBB railway clock, with its distinctive red second hand that pauses at 12 before advancing, has become one of the most recognisable watch designs in the world.
- Founded
- 1951
- Headquarters
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Group
- Other
- Price Segment
- Entry
- Status
- Active
Key Collections
- Official Swiss Railways — The iconic SBB clock watch with red second hand, licensed from the Swiss Federal Railways — one of the most recognisable watch designs in the world.
- Helvetica — Collection celebrating the Swiss typeface, with typography-inspired dial design and clean Bauhaus-influenced aesthetics.
- Essence — Sustainability-focused line using castor oil-based plastic cases and natural rubber straps, maintaining the classic railway design with eco-conscious materials.
Timeline
- 1951 — Erwin Bernheim founds Mondaine in Zurich, initially as a watch trading company.
- 1986 — Mondaine secures the licence from the Swiss Federal Railways to produce watches based on Hans Hilfiker's 1944 station clock design.
- 1997 — The SBB railway watch gains MoMA Design Collection recognition, cementing its status as a design icon.
- 2016 — Launch of the Helvetica collection, celebrating Swiss design heritage through typography-inspired timepieces.
- 2020 — Introduction of the Essence line, pioneering sustainable materials in Swiss watchmaking.
- 2025 — Expands the Essence sustainability line with vegan straps and bio-sourced castor-oil cases. Launches 75th-anniversary SBB Official Railway Clock Watch in limited gold edition.
Frequently Asked Questions about Mondaine
- Why does the Mondaine second hand pause at 12?
- The distinctive 'stop-to-go' second hand pauses at 12 o'clock for about 1.5 seconds before the minute hand advances — exactly replicating how the original SBB station clocks synchronise across Switzerland's rail network.
- Is Mondaine officially connected to Swiss railways?
- Yes. Mondaine is the exclusive licensee of the SBB (Swiss Federal Railways) clock design, originally created by engineer Hans Hilfiker in 1944.